Hartsburg Opens Net for Roussel

Coach Craig Hartsburg said Friday he plans to give backup goalie Dominic Roussel at least one start next week. Roussel is 0-3 with a 2.73 goals-against average in three starts as Guy Hebert has handled most of the goaltending duties this season.

The Ducks play Sunday against the Kings, Wednesday against the expansion Nashville Predators and Friday against the New York Islanders--not exactly murderer’s row.

“I’d like to play him in back-to-back games and give Guy a real rest, not just one game,” Hartsburg said. “[Goalie consultant] Francois Allaire is here working with him, so we hope he’ll get his confidence going.”

Roussel played a solid game in his last start, but his teammates let him down in a flat, 3-1 loss Nov. 27 to the Predators at Nashville Arena.

Before Friday’s shutout against the Washington Capitals, Hebert had a 9-8-6 record and a 2.28 goals-against average. It was his sixth consecutive start.

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Hartsburg came as close to criticizing defenseman Fredrik Olausson as he has all season. Olausson, signed as a free agent last summer to bolster the power play, went into Friday with two goals and has been a frequent scratch this season.

“Freddie hasn’t done the things he’d like to for us yet,” Hartsburg said. “There’s still time, though.”

Olausson returned to the lineup Friday after being scratched for Wednesday’s 4-4 tie against Vancouver.

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Searching for help where they can find it, the struggling Capitals signed forward Patrik Augusta of the Ice Dogs.

Augusta, who had a team-leading 15 goals and 33 points in 28 games for the Ice Dogs, played his first NHL game since 1993-94 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He failed to record a goal or an assist in two games with the Maple Leafs, his only NHL experience until Friday against the Ducks.